On Paybacks And Bitches

Still alive. The Eagles survived 12 penalties (costing them 103 yards) and 2 turnovers to beat the Giants at home 36-22. It was by no means a pretty game. On paper, the stats would have New York marching towards a Wild Card berth. In the NFL, however, it's a different story.

What has made their run so unusual is the Eagles have found a way to win after losing Donovan McNabb for the season with a knee injury. The 36-year-old Garcia is 3-1 since taking over. "I think we all internally had a lot of confidence in Jeff," Eagles owner Jeff Lurie said. "It's a team we felt, with our offensive line and our defense coming together and being opportunistic, if you have a high character group that likes to play together, you have a chance."

I've had extreme reservations about our playoff hopes since losing McNabb, but Garcia has done everything in his power to dispell them. While it was the ugliest of games, I never once found myself tonight wishing Donovan was healthy. Garcia has taken full command of this team. He has their respect. He has their trust. And, most importantly, he has the ability to get the job done.

I don't want to get ahead of myself as far as "hoping for miracles" go. There are two formidable teams left on the schedule. Next week, at Dallas. The following, Atlanta.

But whereas before I was relying on a combination of luck and the other team making mistakes to pave the way, now my confidence in Philadelphia itself, as a team, is renewed. It will not be easy. It will not be pretty.

But it can be done.

Tony Romo? You're hot. But you're going down.